Search for Common Ground's (SFCG) mission is to transform how individuals, organizations and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, we design and implement multifaceted programs that aim to resolve conflict and prevent violence. We seek to help conflicting parties to understand their differences and act on their commonalities.
The Arabic and French Commissioning and Outreach Editor reports to the Managing Editor of CGNews, who is based in Washington, DC.
The position includes four categories of responsibilities:
1. Building strong relationships with op-ed editors
- Improving Arabic and French reprint results in the MENA region and the West - both quantitatively and qualitatively - through a systematic plan of outreach
- Deepening and monitoring existing CGNews editor relationships in both languages
2. Commissioning timely and top-quality op-ed articles
- Participating in the Rapid Response mechanism of CGNews to help identify topical news stories and commissioning accordingly
- Matching topic, author and style of an article commissioned in Arabic or French to a targeted newspaper/s for greater likelihood of success with outreach efforts
- Developing a list of quality and quick-turnaround writers in Arabic and French while expanding it constantly to facilitate commissioning over time
- Coordinating with part-time French editor based in Geneva on commissioning in French
3. Working effectively as part of a multi-location, multi-cultural team with English as base-language
- Overseeing the translation of articles commissioned in French and Arabic into English
- As part of the CGNews editorial board, editing articles for a constructive and solution-oriented focus
- Coordinating with editors based in organization headquarters (Washington DC) in regard to status of translated articles and for choices regarding contributors
4. Utilizing social media and online video to boost CGNews’ presence in the Arab world
- Reach out to and maintain relationships with bloggers, social media organizations and internet activists to promote CGNews, SFCG resources and events and boost article reprints
- Manage social media campaigns and marketing for CGNews website and planned 1001 Stories of Common Ground website to generate users and readers for these sites in the MENA region
Requirements
- Excellent French and Arabic language writing and editing skills
- At least three (3) years of experience in journalism/media, conflict resolution, political science, or social studies
- Bachelor’s degree in a related area required
- Excellent knowledge of Middle Eastern media, including online and social media
- Strong understanding of current debates and dynamics in Muslim-Western relations and familiarity with leading individuals and institutions in this field
- A keen interest in the written word and in international affairs
- Effective communicator at all levels and in all media
- Interest in/knowledge of conflict resolution and prevention
- Ability to manage multiple activities concurrently
- Highly organized and excellent attention to detail
- Highly motivated and energetic
- Computer skills
Desirable
- Knowledge of francophone European media
- Fluent language abilities in English
Send CV and covering letter to dagha@sfcg.org
